Student "hooked" on idea of new club

by: Tony DeVolder
Guest Writer

The competition was almost over. Texas A & M, North Purdue, the University of Iowa and Kentucky had all fallen. It was down to the last two schools: Stephen F. Austin of Texas, and the University of Illinois. Illinois had been in control and was in the lead until Stephen F. Austin of Texas pulled a six-pound bass out of their… livewell?

That probably is not the play-by-play you would expect to hear when you turn on “College Game Day.” However, that could all change in the near future.  With ESPN’s purchase of the BASS anglers Sportsman Society in 2001, ESPN has had a mission to grow the sport of professional bass fishing.  They have already taken giant steps, and now dedicate three days of  ESPN and ESPN 2, for live coverage of the Bass Masters Classic. 

The next logical move was to find a younger audience and younger participants. That’s where the idea of the College Smash-Mouth Bass Tournament came about.  The inaugural event was held in Arkansas on Oct. 14-15 with Stephen F. Austin taking the top honors.  Austin’s victory over the University of Illinois was secured by a mammoth six-pound, six-ounce bass; caught just minutes into the third and final round of the competeion.

Bass Fishing as a professional sport?  Believe it or not, there have been tournaments all across America since the late 1960s, under founder Ray Scott.  Today there are two national tours (BASS and FLW), and the bass fishing business has become one of the biggest and fastest growing in America today.

“I have been a fishing fanatic my whole life,” said St. Ambrose student Tony DeVolder.  “My brother and I would fish anywhere for anything, that was until I learned about bass fishing and tournament.”  DeVolder has been participating in bass tournaments since the age of 12, and he took third in his first event. 

“Ever since I caught my first bass I was hooked, no other fish would do,” DeVolder said. “I became obsessed.’’  When DeVolder learned of the Smash-Mouth Tournament, he  knew he had to get involved.

Now DeVolder’s goal is to create a St. Ambrose fishing club, and to get involved in the next Smash-Mouth event. 

“I really can’t wait, I want to get out there and represent St. Ambrose,” DeVolder said. “I am also really excited about the fishing club.  I think that it will be a great thing for St. Ambrose and a fun way to hopefully get more people involved in fishing.”